While in the first half we saw a Highlanders team that played to the level of their opponent, seeing few line breaks, poor ball handling, and the inability to make anything happen that resulted in a rather boring, yet stressful 40 minutes, the second half was a different story.
For the first time this season, it was the Highlanders who came out with a fire lit under their... I'll be polite and say bums and with a feverish urgency scored two tries in under five minutes. What had taken them until the end of the first half to achieve, they accomplished in mere minutes of the second half; that threatening attack of the Highlanders had finally decided to come out and play.
This entire season we've seen the potential in their play to open up into a try scoring romp and it finally, finally happened. Granted it was against the Rebels, but as a fan, it was refreshing to see the boys come out, take the bit between their teeth and never let go.
The standouts of the game are, I feel, obvious. Adam Thomson played like a flanker masquerading as a winger, finding all three of his tries out wide and indulging in those silly celebratory gestures that backs are notorious for, which always makes me wonder if they have nothing better to do at training then practise those ridiculous moves. Since they are backs, it wouldn't surprise me.
His break from the action last weekend seems to have renewed him; Thommo was a tireless machine with a work rate that would have run mere mortals into the dirt and left them lying there for days in recovery.
Ben Smith was another man turned machine. He might have only got a measly two tries (how could he have let a forward outscore him?), but his quick pass put Thommo in for his second and his fend of Nick Phipps was less a fend and more of a Jedi using the Force to slam Phipps off his feet. I may have rewound and slow mo'd that scene a few times. His slicing runs broke tackles and cut up the defence and contributed to Thommo's third try on the night.
A player who not only score tries, but can can create opportunities for themselves and their teammates is invaluable, and Ben Smith was on such form last night.
Many players put in strong performances last night, especially during those last 40 minutes. Nasi Manu, Aaron Smith, Kade Poki, heck, each individual of the Highlanders team who saw some game time did something well, even Cowan played with spirit.
So let's take this moment to bask in the glory of the Highlanders sitting at the top of the table, even if it is because ours is the only game to have been played so far this weekend.